Packing gland for TiCl4 inlet to oxidizer reactor

Abstract

A fabricated packed pipe coupling gland suitable for a connection where there is at least one brittle pipe, the coupling forming a pressure tight, leak proof coupling which is semi-rigid. The coupling is particularly useful for coupling glass pipe to metal pipe for conveying highly corrosive vapors at high temperature, for example heated titanium tetrachloride vapors to a reactor for forming titanium dioxide.

I claim: 
     
       1. A coupling for a U-bend in a brittle pipe comprising a flanged housing means for a brittle U-bend of pipe, a flanged follower plate removably secured to said housing flange, said flanged follower plate having follower sleeves opposite the ends of said pipe U-bend, a flanged plate carrying two packed sleeves and adapted to fit over said follower and be secured to said follower plate, said packed sleeves containing packing rings, each packed sleeve containing a brittle pipe, and means to urge said follower flange toward said packed sleeve flange such that said packing is compressed and holds said brittle pipes. 
     
     
       2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said urging means is a plurality of spring loaded bolts through said follower flange and the adjacent sleeve flange. 
     
     
       3. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said brittle pipe is a silica pipe. 
     
     
       4. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said packing is thermally and chemically resistent. 
     
     
       5. The coupling of claim 4 wherein said packing is fiberglass. 
     
     
       6. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said sleeves, followers and flanges are of a thermally and chemically resistent metal alloy. 
     
     
       7. The coupling of claim 6 wherein said alloy is a high nickel alloy.